Brake mechanism



no Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 1. R. O. WOOD.

BRAKE MECHANISM. I No. 495,717. Patented Apr. 18, 1893.

THE NORWS PETER-5 CO. PHOTOLIIHOu WAEHINKWGN. D- C (No Model.) I aShets-Sheet 2;

RI 0! I BRAKE'MEGHANISM.

N0. 495,717. Patented Apr. 18, 1893.

(NoModel-.) I 3Sheets-$heet3.

RQO. WOOD. BRAKE MECHANISM. Np. 495,717. Patented Apr. 18, 1893.

r 1 k *f "'f"* F Kb 1 'Q I l @1 |O 1 O UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROSTO ORRIN WOOD, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOW. MARTIN JONES, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

'BRAKE MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,717, dated April18, 1893.

Application filed August 21, 1890. Serial No. 362,680. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: hangers suspended from the car for the sameBe it known that I, ROSTO ORRIN WOOD, a purpose. citizen of the UnitedStates, and a residentof J ournaled at one end to the frame of theWVorcester, county of Worcester, and State of car, or abracket theretoattached, and to a 55 Massachusetts, have invented anew and usesimilarbracket or step rigidly attached to ful Improvement in Brake Mechanisms,of said frame work, is a shaft E in a vertical which the following is aspecification, accomposition, by preference, as shown in Fig. 2 paniedby drawings forming a part of the (though it may be placed in ahorizontal posame, and together containing, a full, clear, sition andtransversely to the vehicle, without 60 I0 and exact description of myinvention. departing materially from the spirit of my in- Referring tothe drawings: Figure 1 reprevention.) On the vertical shaft E, I place asents a top plan view of the car truck, with short, radial arm or flangeF, and rigidly atlny improved brake mechanism applied theretach itthereto. Pivotally connected thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional longitudinalside elewith, and opposite each other, are two short 65 vation of thesame on line as w showing the links ff, provided with turn-buckles oraddouble cam in position for operation. Figs. justing screws forpurposes further on ex- 3, 4 and 5 show enlarged details of some partsplained. of mybrake mechanism. Fig. 6 showsa modi; G is a brake-barprovided with supportingfication of the double cam device for operatrodsLL pivotally connected to the upper sur- 7o ing the parallel bars. Figs.7and 8 represent face of brake-bar G at one end, and to the my mechanismas adapted to electric cars. under surface of the car at the other end,in Figs. 9 and 10 show a modification of the mode near proximity to thewheel. To said brakeof operating the toggle-joint mechanism. barGbrake-shoesggare attached, and adapt Similar letters refer to similarparts in the ed to exactly fit the convex surface of the pe- 75difierent figures. riphery of the wheel. On its outer surface Myinvention relates to a mechanism by and nearest to shaft E, a bracket isattached which the brake shoes can be applied to the which is pivotallyconnected to the otherend wheels of a car or other vehicle, either bythe of said short linksf f, thereby connecting brakeman standing on theplatform of the the brake-shoes on the inner peripheral sur- 8o car, orother convenient position, or by the faces of the wheels with thecentral shaft E reversal of the propelling power as it is apthroughintermediate mechanism as above plied to the vehicle, and it consists inthe arexplained. To said central shaft E is also rangement and theconstruction of the sevrigidly attached a long, radial arm F, each eralparts as illustrated in the drawings and end of which is provided withstuds n n, en- 85 hereinafter described and specifically pointed teringslots (1 (1' in the connecting links f f out in the subjoined claims.which are pivoted at their opposite ends to In the accompanying drawingsthe mechthe draw-bars C C (see Fig. 1). Two other anism forming thesubject of my invention is shafts, E and E are placed one at each endrepresented as applied to the Wheels of a of the car beneath theplatform, andare each 90 street car and the modifications and changesprovided with double cams F and F", as in order to adapt it to othervehicles will be shown by dotted lines in Fig. l. The cams readily seenwithout a detailed illustration or are firmly attached, either by setscrews or description. made to tightly fit the square surfaces of InFig. 1 A denotes a portion of the body shaft, shown in Fig. 3. On eachofsaid shafts 5 5 of a street car, indicated by dotted lines, B E and Eabove the double cam are also atthe Wheels, and C C the draw-bars bywhich tached in similar manner, radial arms F and it is drawn. F madeindependent of each other, orcastin D and D represent a frameworkdependone piece. (See Fig. 1.) Pivotally connected ing from the body ofthe car on its under surat each of the free ends of said radial arms, F100 face to support the brake-operating mechan-' and F are links f and flinks f beingpivism, and D another form of support or iron oted to theslotted portion of the posterior end of the drawbar by which the vehicleis drawn, and link f being provided with a short chain or other flexibleextension leading to and attached to the lower end of a vertical shaftof ordinary construction having at its other end a wheel or crank forthe use of the brakeman standing on the platform of the car, (as shownin Figs. 8 and 10.)

The long connecting linksf andf connecting the draw-bar at either end ofthe car with the long radial arm on the central shaft E, are slotted atthe end thereto attached, for the purpose of permitting an independentmotion by one connecting link, without imparting motion to the other. Oneither side of said double cams, (indicated in Fig. 1 by dotted lines,)and in close contact therewith are two brake-bars G and G On the otherside of said cams and parallel to said brake-bars G2 and G aresupplementary bars G and G These brake bars are connected as follows byiron rods II and H. Brake bar G is connected to supplemental bar G atthe other end of the car and brakebar G and supplemental bar G aresimilarly connected. Each supplemental bar may also be similarlyconnected to the brake-bars G and G, as indicated in Fig. 7 at h, and bydotted lines in Fig. 1; so also may the long connecting links f and f(connecting the long radial arms on the central shaft with the posteriorends of the draw-bars) be made of one continuous rod, (as indicated inFig. 7 and by dotted lines in Fig. 1) from the end of the draw-bar wherenow pivoted, and extended to the radial arm F (at f) and pivotallyconnected therewith, or said extension piece may be an independent linkof itself connecting said radial arm at f with the extreme posterior endof draw-baras shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Each of the draw-bars is provided with a hole through which a stop-pinT, passes, (at c, 0, Fig. 2) preventing a rearward motion of thedraw-bar when the brake mechanism is not needed; and they are alsoprovided with two other slots, e and e at the points through which theshafts E and E pass, and which will prevent a rearward motion of saiddrawbar farther than is necessary to apply the brakes which are operatedby the togglejoint mechanism on the central shaft. The slot m near theposterior end of the draw-bar in conjunction with the slotted end of theconnecting link 1, cl in Fig. 1) attached to the long radial arm on thecentral shaft, permits the draft of the draw-bar forward withoutaffecting the brake mechanism.

The construction and arrangement of the shafts E and E and theirconnections with intermediate mechanism to and with the long radial armas above described, are similar, and permit each and every combinationof one, two, or all brake bars to be operated independently of, or inconjunction with each other, according to the amount of braking powerrequired; and also, as will be seen, the various combinations may beoperated by the reversal of the draw-bar, independently of the brakeman,or driver, orin conjunction therewith.

The springs S, S, surrounding the drawbars prevent a sudden resistancewhen the propulsive force is applied to move the car forward. Thesprings S S (see Fig. 2) are for purposes of returning the shafts withcams thereon to their normal position, thereby removing the brake shoesfrom the wheels when not needed, and the springs S and S furnishadditional force for that purpose. Any convenient form of spring may beused for said purpose. Guides on the parallel bars (at e) are providedif necessary with grooves adapted to fit them shown at i, Fig. .5.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a slight modification of the double cam devicefor operating the parallel bars, but as it embodies the cam principle,and may be used for the same purpose, (and instead of the cam) I willexplain its application and operation. It consists of a small pinion, P,which is rigidly attached to the shaft E in the same manner as isthedouble cam and on either side of which are triangular pieces, P and Pwith gear teeth on their inner surfaces next to the pinion, and theouter edge coming in sliding contact with each of the parallel bars. Toprevent excessive friction four small wheels, 0, 0, 0, 0, are provided,one at each corner of the outer edge, and it must be seen that as theshaft is rocked the parallel bars will be forced apart, as in the casewith the other cam device. Turn-buckles or adjusting screws may beplaced upon any of the links in this mechanism as shown on shortlinksfif' in Fig. 2 for purposes of adjusting the distance between thebrake shoes and the wheel. In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown itsadaptability to electric cars and the position of the parts referred toby dotted lines in Fig. 1 when the drawbar is not required. In Fig. 7 itwill be observed that the long connecting links f and f are attached toa short arm representing the point of attachment f in Fig. 1 whichoperate the central shaft E, and which, when the brake shoes are appliedwith the intermediate mechanism will be in position as shown by dottedlines. (See Fig. 7.) It must be seen that the long connecting linkattachment to the short radial arm at f operating the short arm orflange F straightening the linksfand f acts asa double toggle jointmechanism for purposes of applying the brake shoes to the peripheries ofthe wheels on their inner edges nearest the center of the car.

In Fig. 8 I have also shown the connection of the short chain attachmentto connecting link f with the vertical shafts f and f operated by thebrakeman on the platform of the car. In Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown aslight modification of the toggle joint mechanism for operating thebrake shoes on the inner edge of the wheel nearest to the center of thecar. In this the two connecting links f and f are attached to a flangeJ, in a vertical position and above the axis of a horif zontal planewith the brake bars, to which they are also attached at the other end.To said flange J, near its upper edge a link, K, is pivotally attached,and pivotally connected therewith at its opposite end is link K, saidlink K being pivotally connected at the other end to a bracket 1 whichis rigidly attached to the under surface or frame of the car. At thejunction of links K and K is link K pivotally connected therewith, theother end of link K being pivotally attached to a lug 0" which isrigidly attached to the long rods H, H.

The operation of my brake mechanism is as follows:.As the draw-bars, (oreitherof them) are pushed back by the reversal of the power by which thecar is drawn, as would occur upon the descent of a hill, or by thestopping of the horses, in order to arrest the motion of the car, theshaft E is rocked by means of the connecting link connected with thereversed draw-bar and the connected radial arm upon the shaft E, rockingsaid shaft, and forcing the short links around in position on a linewith the center of the posterior end of the draw-bar thereby thrustingthe brake-shoes against the peripheries of the wheels, nearest thecenter of the car, or the central shaft E. Simultaneously with theoperation just described, the shafts E and E are rocked by means of theradial arm attachments to said shafts, and to the slotted portion of theposterior end of the draw-bar, operating in such a manner abovedescribed as to cause the brake-bars at each end of the car to beoperated, thereby forcing all the brakeshoes to bear against theperipheries of the wheels, at one and the same time. When the propellingforce is again applied to move the car forward, the brake-shoes areremoved from the peripheries of the wheels either by the action of thesprings or by the action of the hangers attached to the brake-bars,supporting them in position from the under surface of the car, allowingthe brake shoe to be removed from the wheel by the force of gravitation.

To prevent the brakes being applied should it be desired to force a carrearward, a stoppin, '1, is provided, passing down through the platformof the car, near the hand brake wheel, and through the hole 0, in thedraw-bar, thereby preventing the brake mechanism from being operated,(see Figs. 1 and 2.)

The toggle joint mechanism described in Figs. 9 and 10 is to be attachedto the long rods II, H, in like manner as attached to II, H, for thepurpose of operating the brake mechanism at the other end of the car,(though not shown in drawings,) and it must be readily seen that as theshafts E E or either of them, are rocked the cams carried thereon willforce the supplemental bars backward in the direction of the arrow,thereby straightening the joint combination of links K and K whereby theflange J and the ends of links and f are forced downward and into astraight horizontal position in a similar manner as by the central shaftmechanism above described, and it will be seen that the motion of thelong connecting rods H, H, actuated by the rocking motion of the cams,serve to carry the brake-shoes g, 9, against the edges of the wheels,through the straightening of the links f and f, which, as in theconstruction represented in Figs. 1 and 7 serve as the links of a doubletoggle joint.

Having now fully described my brake-mechanism and how it is to beapplied, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a brake mechanism, the combination with the brake-shoes anddraw-bars by which the vehicle is drawn, three vertical shafts journaledin bearingsin position beneath the body of the car, substantially asdescribed; said shafts operatively connected with drawbars at either endof thecar, and with each other, substantially as described, cams andradial arms carried on said shafts, and intermediate mechanism wherebybrake shoes can be made to bear forcibly against the peripheries of thewheels, substantially as illustrated and described.

2. In a brake mechanism, the combination with the draw-bar by which thecar is drawn, a connecting link pivoted at one end to said draw-bar,said link being provided with a slot at its other end substantially asdescribed, a vertical shaft journaled in bearings centrally beneath thebody of the car, provided with a radial arm carrying a stud whichoperatively connects said central shaft with the draw-bar throughintermediate operating mechanism substantially as described, a flange orshort radial arms opposite each other also attached to said centralshaft, brake bars with brake shoes attached, suspended in position bysuitable hanging connections with the under surface of the car or truckframe, and operatively connected with said short radial arms or flangesubstantially as described whereby the reversal of the draw-bar willcause the brakeshoes to be forced against the peripheries of the wheelsnearest to central shaft substantially as described.

3. In combination the draw-bar by which the car isdrawn,alinkorintermediate mechanism pivotall y attached to said draw-barthe other. end of said link pivotally connected with a stud on radialarm rigidly connected with vertical shaft, a vertical shaft journaledcentrally beneath the body of the car, said shaft provided with a radialarm carrying a stud, a flange or other radial arms also attached to saidcentral shaft, short connecting links pivot-ally attached to said flangeor arm, brake bars with brake-shoes attached placed and held in positionconvenient to be forced against the peripheries of the wheels, linkconnections pivotally attached at one end to a bracket on saidbrake-bars, the other end in like manner attached to the flange or shot;

radial arms whereby the brake shoes are forced against the peripheriesof the wheels on their inner surfaces nearest the central shaft substantially as illustrated and described.

4. In a brake mechanism the combination of the draw-bar by which thevehicle is drawn with a connecting link pivoted at one end to saiddraw-bar, said link being provided with a slot at its opposite end, avertical shaft at either end of the car, journaled in bearings beneaththe platforms of the car, substantially as described; cams on saidshafts with radial arms thereto attached, connecting links pivotallyattached to said arms, at one end, the other end connected with theslotted portion of the posterior end of the draw-bars, brakebar withbrake shoes attached and placed in position between said cam and wheelat each end of the car and intermediate mechanism whereby the shoes areforced against the periphery of the wheel with each reversed motion ofthe draw-bar, substantially as described.

5. In a brake mechanism the combination of the draw-bar by which thevehicle is drawn, with vertical shafts through intermediate mechanismand journaled in bearings beneath the platform of a car, at either endthereof, cams carried on said shafts, and radial arms thereto attached,brake bars and supplem ental bars placed in parallel positions on eitherside of said cams, said supplemental bars being operatively connectedwith its associate brake bar, at the other end of the carrespectively,substantiallyas described whereby one brake-bar is made tobe pushed against the periphery of the wheel, and simultaneouslytherewith, the brake-bar with shoes attached at the other end of the caris forcibly pulled against the periphery of the wheel, by means of therocking motion of the double cams at either end of the car, actuated bythe reversal of the draw-bar (or brakeman) substantially as described.

6. In a brake mechanism the combination of a vertical shaft journaled inbearings beneath the platform of the car, cams carried on said shaft,brake-bars with brake shoes attached and arranged to bear against theperipheries of the wheels, and operatively connected with said cams,through intermediate mechanism, substantially as described, two radialarms attached to said shaft a draw-bar by which the Vehicle is drawn, aconnecting link between one of the said radial arms and said draw-bar, aconnecting link connecting the other radial arm with a short piece ofchain leading to the vertical shaft, provided with a wheel or hand-crankby which the cams can be rocked independently of orin conjunction withthe reversed motion of the draw-bar, simultaneously, substantially asand for the purpose herein described and set forth.

7. In a brake mechanism, the combination of a vertical shaft at eitheror both ends of a car, cams carried on said shafts and radial armsthereto attached, said radial arms pivotally connected with theposterior end of the draw-bar, through intermediate mechanism wherebysaid shafts are rocked with each reversed motion of the draw-barsubstantially as described, said draw-bar pivot-all y connected with acentral shaft by means of long links slotted at the end withpivotal-attachments to the long radial arm on said central shaftsubstantially as described; brake-bars with brake-shoes attached placedin position and adapted to be operated upon, through intermediatemechanism whereby the brakeshoes are forced to bear against theperiphery of the wheel with each reverse motion of the draw-barsubstantially as described.

8. In a brake mechanism, the combination ofashaftlocated centrallybetween the wheels beneath the body of a car, a long radial arm attachedthereto, carryinga stud at either end thereof,two connectinglinks, eachbeing slotted at one end, and pivotally connected with said stud, ashort arm or flange rigidly attached also to said central shaft with twoshort links pivotallyconnected thereto, brakebars with brake shoesattached, connected to said short links, (pivotally) substantially asdescribed; said slotted connecting links pivotally connected with thedraw-bar by which the vehicle is drawn, said draw-bar slottedposteriorly, permitting a motion rearward, whereby the brake mechanismis operated, to cause the brake shoes to bear against the peripheries ofthe wheels on their inner edges nearest the shaft, with each reversedmotion of the draw-bar at either end of the car, independent of eachother, or in conjunction with each other, substantially as described.

9. In a brake mechanism, the combination of a vertical shaftat either orboth ends of a car, cams on said shaft with radial arm thereto attached,said radial arm provided with two pivotal connections, the one at theextreme end of said radial arm pivotally connected with the slottedportion of the posterior end of the draw-bar through intermediatemechanism, substantially as described, the other pivotally connectedwith the extreme posterior end of the draw-bar to which is alsopivotally attached one end of the long connecting links which form theconnection of the posterior end of the draw-bar with the radial arm onthe central shaft substantially as described, brake-bars with brakeshoes attached and held in position by suitable hanging attachments tothe truck or frame of the car and adapted to be operated upon byintermediate mechanism whereby the brake shoes are caused to bearforcibly against the peripheries of the wheels with each reversed motionof the draw-bars, or either of them, substantially as described.

10. In a brake mechanism, the combination with a vertical shaft ateither or both ends of a car, cams carried on said shafts, and withradial arms thereto attached, said radial arms pivotally connected withthe slotted posterior end of the draw-bars substantially as described,said radial arms havingasecond pivotal connection with a long connectinglink at one end thereof, the other end of said long connecting linkbeing slotted and pivotally connected with a stud on the long radial armattached to the central shaft between the two axles, substantially asdescribed; a second radial arm attached to saidvertical cam shaftspivotally connected to a connecting link be- Io tween said arm and thelower end of a vertical crank shaft operated by the brakeman,substantially as described; parallel bars, on either side of the camshafts and operatively connected with each other, at either or both I5ends of the car, and with their operative mechanism on either or bothsides of each wheel on each axle, whereby the brake shoes are forciblythrust against the peripheries of the wheels, independently of, or inconjunc- 2c tion with the reverse motion of the drawbar by which thevehicle is drawn, substantially as illustrated and described.

11. In a brake mechanism, the combination of two parallel bars at eitheror both ends of a car operatively connected by rods with or r -th roughintermediate mechanism, brake shoes are made to bear forcibly againstthe peripheries of the wheels, with the reversal of the draw-bar, bywhich the vehicleis drawn, sub' 3 5 stantially as described, radial armsattached to said vertical shafts, and pivotally connected to connectinglinks and short chains, attached to vertical shafts with hand wheel orcrank attached above the platform of the car 40 and whereby the brakemechanism can be operated independently of or in conjunction with thereversal of the drawbar substantially as described, and a suitablespring mechanism, connected with said brake mechanism,whereby the brakeshoes are automatically removed from the periphery of the wheel,substantially as described,and astoppin mechanism by which theapplication of the brake shoes to the wheels, can be prevented when sodesired, substantially as. described.

12. In a brake mechanism the combination of a vertical shaft at eitheror both ends of the car, cams carried on said shaft and operativelyconnected with two parallel bars in a horizontal position, substantiallyas described, said bars operativel y connected with two similar parallelbars at the other end of the car, by means of long connecting rodssubstantially as described, two other brake bars with brake shoesattached, suspended 1n position centrally between the two axles of thecar, by means of suitable hangingconnections with the lower surface ofthe frame, or body of the car, substantially as described, connectinglinks pivotally attached to said brake bars and to a flange at theotherend of said links, and operatively connected by intermediatemechanism with the cam-shafts, through which by being operativelyconnected with the vertlcal crank or wheel shaft, operated by thebrakeman, the said connecting links are straightened, by which means thebrake shoes on the inner brake bars are brought to bear forcibly againstthe peripheries of the wheels on their inner edges, simultaneously andin conjunction with those on the outer edge, by means of aforce appliedto the crank-shaft by the brakeman, substantially as described.

13. In a brake mechanism in combination with a verticalshaft at eitherend of the car, cams carried on said shaft with radial arms theretoattached, a double toggle-joint mechanism by which through intermediatemechanism the brake shoes may be forcibly applied to the peripheries ofthe wheels with the reversal of the draw-bar, or byforce applied by thedriver orbrakeman, substantially as described.

ROSTO ORRIN WOOD. Witnesses:

J. B. Woon, E. J. MINER.

